Children can live happy, active lives with asthma. However, poorly controlled asthma can cause fatigue, increase the risk for lung infections, and even delay growth. Furthermore, having poorly controlled asthma can lead to difficulty sleeping, the inability to participate in certain sports, and the need to take time off from school.
The good news is, if your child has asthma, there are things you can do to help them thrive. In this blog, the providers at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma in Claremore, Oklahoma, explain what causes asthma and how you can help your child live well.
Asthma is a condition in which the immune system overreacts to certain environmental triggers, such as smoke, pollen, dust, or mold. In response, the airways then become inflamed and swollen and produce excess mucus.
These factors then make the airways narrower, which makes it harder for air to flow.
One of the best ways to help your child avoid asthma flare-ups is to reduce their exposure to environmental triggers. Here are four things you can do with this goal in mind:
The modern house is filled with irritants that can be damaging to children who suffer from asthma. Candles, hair sprays, detergents, hand sanitizers, showering gels, and anything that has a scent can cause indoor air pollution and, as a consequence, trigger asthma.
Mold can easily sneak into your house if you leave clothes in the washing machine, have high levels of humidity, or have a lot of house plants, as mold can sometimes hide in the soil of plants.
So try to reduce the humidity in your house, and if there are humid places, make sure to monitor them for mold.
Many children with asthma also have an allergy to cockroaches. Cockroaches thrive in humid environments, so make sure there aren’t any leaks in your home.
Also, cockroaches are attracted to food, so always keep food in containers, and don’t leave any dirty dishes behind, as they could attract pests.
Dust is a big trigger for asthma, and although vacuuming and cleaning are a must, there are other things you can do to help reduce the amount of dust in your house, too.
For example, consider getting rid of your carpet and switching to hardwood floors. This is because carpet can trap a lot of dust. You should also regularly wash blankets and bedding.
If you suspect your child has asthma, we can give your child a thorough evaluation and discuss your treatment options. To learn more, call 918-283-4660 or book an appointment online with Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma today.
